Dear Explorer,
I hope by now you are realizing that this NEW WAY of living that Jesus was introducing is only possible if we have invited Him into our core. Then the Holy Spirit will guide us and empower us. This way of living is not humanly possible! But it IS supernaturally possible!
Read Matthew 5:43-48
What is the Jewish Law quoted in Matthew 5:43?
The Jews based this Law on Leviticus 19:17 that says you should not hate your fellow countryman. Therefore, they concluded that it was right and good to hate those who were not Jews.
What does Jesus say is His NEW WAY?
What example does Jesus give of God's kind of love in Matthew 5:45?
It's hard enough to love those who love us, but it's impossible without the Holy Spirit's help to love those who don't! Yet, this is Jesus' NEW WAY.
Re-read Matthew 5:48
“Perfect” here should probably have been translated “complete” or “mature”. The meaning is that we should be constantly growing and becoming more complete just as our Father is already complete. If you are following the Holy Spirit's guidance inside of you, you should gradually become more like Jesus in all your ways.
I used to teach teachers how to teach God's Word. I was leading a seminar for youth pastors and volunteers when one of them dropped out and said, “I could never do all the things you are asking us to do! I quit!” I talked to his pastor because I was really concerned for him. His pastor told me, “There are essentially 3 responses to any challenge – whether it's a sermon or a lecture or a teaching. They are
(1) I can do that by my SELF, and I will give it all I've got.
(2) I can't do that, so I quit and won't even try; or
(3) I'm not doing that yet, but with God's help, I'll let Him guide me.
Jesus was a master teacher. What He taught here was the way He lived daily and the way we were designed by God to live. But there's an underlying secret: If we are truly honest, we must admit that we are not very successful in doing these things. And that's the point that Jesus was making. He is describing what God expects of us, but we will need His help to accomplish it. We cannot do it on our own.
I believe a lot of people don't want to read God's Word because it makes them feel bad. They feel inadequate to ever be this “good”. Depending on SELF will always lead to failure.
I promise you, 100% guarantee, that you can't do these things without God's help.
Read Luke 6:27-36
Which of these things would you need God's help with?
Now, what will your response be: will you attempt to do it by your SELF? Will you just quit trying and pretend you don't know what God wants from you? Or will you ask God to help you?
I believe that realizing that we need God's help is the same conclusion that God wanted the Jewish people to come to when He gave them the 600 rules. He wanted them to know that they needed help! They needed a Messiah! Just like we do!
The decision is yours.
In His service, dale
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